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Twisted Wishes #2
Counterpoint
Twisted Wishes lead guitarist Dominic “Domino” Bradley is an animal onstage. But behind his tight leather pants and skull-crusher boots lies a different man entirely, one who needs his stage persona not only to perform, but to have the anonymity he craves. A self-imposed exile makes it impossible to get close to anyone outside the band, so he’s forced to get his sexual fix through a few hot nights with a stranger.
When computer programmer Adrian Doran meets Dominic, he’s drawn to the other man’s quiet voice and shy smile. But after a few dirty, demanding nights exploring Dominic’s need to be dominated, Adrian wants more than a casual distraction. He has no idea he’s fallen for Domino Grinder—the outlandish, larger-than-life rock god.
Dominic is reluctant to trust Adrian with his true identity. But when the truth is revealed prematurely, Dominic is forced to reevaluate both his need for Adrian and everything he believes about himself.
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
This book is approximately 93,000 words
Carina Press acknowledges the editorial services of Mackenzie Walton
When computer programmer Adrian Doran meets Dominic, he’s drawn to the other man’s quiet voice and shy smile. But after a few dirty, demanding nights exploring Dominic’s need to be dominated, Adrian wants more than a casual distraction. He has no idea he’s fallen for Domino Grinder—the outlandish, larger-than-life rock god.
Dominic is reluctant to trust Adrian with his true identity. But when the truth is revealed prematurely, Dominic is forced to reevaluate both his need for Adrian and everything he believes about himself.
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
This book is approximately 93,000 words
Carina Press acknowledges the editorial services of Mackenzie Walton
292 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2018
About the author
Anna Zabo
24 books627 followersAnna Zabo (they/them) writes contemporary and paranormal romance for all colors of the rainbow. They live and work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which isn’t nearly as boring as most people think.
Anna is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns and prefers Mx. Zabo as an honorific.
Anna grew up in the wilds of suburban Philadelphia before returning to their ancestral homelands in Western Pennsylvania. They can be easily plied with coffee.
Anna has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, where they fell in with a roving band of romance writers and never looked back. They also have a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.
Anna is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns and prefers Mx. Zabo as an honorific.
Anna grew up in the wilds of suburban Philadelphia before returning to their ancestral homelands in Western Pennsylvania. They can be easily plied with coffee.
Anna has an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, where they fell in with a roving band of romance writers and never looked back. They also have a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University.
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June 14, 20186/14/2018: Reviewers can request the book on NG: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
3/30/2018: No blurb yet (that's coming!), but this is the second Twisted Wishes book, and is Dom's book. (He's the guitarist of the band.)
I describe it as: Indomitable Rock God who's secretly a twink falls for a geek who likes to tie men up.
Yes, there's bondage and some D/s, but no pain play.
Rep: Dom is gay. Adrian is pansexual.
Content warnings I can think of behind the spoiler cut.
3/30/2018: No blurb yet (that's coming!), but this is the second Twisted Wishes book, and is Dom's book. (He's the guitarist of the band.)
I describe it as: Indomitable Rock God who's secretly a twink falls for a geek who likes to tie men up.
Yes, there's bondage and some D/s, but no pain play.
Rep: Dom is gay. Adrian is pansexual.
Content warnings I can think of behind the spoiler cut.
December 15, 2018
2.5 stars
It's time for me to admit that this author's Just Business was a one hit wonder for me. I've tried four other books, including this one, and they just aren't my jam.
This is the second in this series but can be read as a standalone. I did not finished book one (which should have been a sign I guess) and I had no problems following the plot. The overall plot was fine but I just couldn't connect with either of the MC's. I disliked Adrian right out of the gate. His pick up lines were sleazy and I felt like he was going to bust out with trying to sell Dominic a used car any minute. (And can we talk about authors constantly naming characters Dom in books about bdsm, dom/sub elements. Why does this keep happening?? For the love of all that is holy stop doing this!! And of course Dom was the sub in this relationship so there was that. *eye roll*) I liked Dom at the beginning but as the story went on I just couldn't connect with him. I didn't understand his relationship with his alter ego or his past relationships with men.
I didn't see what Dom saw in Adrian and these two were just a weird match for me. I wasn't feeling the connection between the two guys and a lot of their dialogue just felt over the top to me. It was all kind of cheesy and I found myself rolling my eyes more than once. They had a ton of sex and I found myself skipping most of it. A bunch of sex scenes does not equal relationship development. It's just filler imo. It was one of those books that I wouldn't have cared if they broke up and got with other people. Never a good sign for a romance story.
Like I previously said the overall plot was fine but the execution just was....not good. It was awkward and, well just awkward. In example....
Dominic"s body stilled, and his eyes turned inward for a moment.
What? His eyes turned inward? There was another spot where his gaze turned inward also. (I spent the next chapter worried that the dude needed to see an ophthalmologist.) There was a bunch of stuff like this.
This is possibly a case of it being me not the book. Everything about these two and their relationship was just wonky for me. I couldn't relate to any of it. I think if you were a fan of book one you will probably enjoy this one. (The mc's for book one were in this a fair amount.) The only thing I can say with utter confidence is this will be my last attempt to read this author.
**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
It's time for me to admit that this author's Just Business was a one hit wonder for me. I've tried four other books, including this one, and they just aren't my jam.
This is the second in this series but can be read as a standalone. I did not finished book one (which should have been a sign I guess) and I had no problems following the plot. The overall plot was fine but I just couldn't connect with either of the MC's. I disliked Adrian right out of the gate. His pick up lines were sleazy and I felt like he was going to bust out with trying to sell Dominic a used car any minute. (And can we talk about authors constantly naming characters Dom in books about bdsm, dom/sub elements. Why does this keep happening?? For the love of all that is holy stop doing this!! And of course Dom was the sub in this relationship so there was that. *eye roll*) I liked Dom at the beginning but as the story went on I just couldn't connect with him. I didn't understand his relationship with his alter ego or his past relationships with men.
I didn't see what Dom saw in Adrian and these two were just a weird match for me. I wasn't feeling the connection between the two guys and a lot of their dialogue just felt over the top to me. It was all kind of cheesy and I found myself rolling my eyes more than once. They had a ton of sex and I found myself skipping most of it. A bunch of sex scenes does not equal relationship development. It's just filler imo. It was one of those books that I wouldn't have cared if they broke up and got with other people. Never a good sign for a romance story.
Like I previously said the overall plot was fine but the execution just was....not good. It was awkward and, well just awkward. In example....
Dominic"s body stilled, and his eyes turned inward for a moment.
What? His eyes turned inward? There was another spot where his gaze turned inward also. (I spent the next chapter worried that the dude needed to see an ophthalmologist.) There was a bunch of stuff like this.
This is possibly a case of it being me not the book. Everything about these two and their relationship was just wonky for me. I couldn't relate to any of it. I think if you were a fan of book one you will probably enjoy this one. (The mc's for book one were in this a fair amount.) The only thing I can say with utter confidence is this will be my last attempt to read this author.
**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
September 17, 2018
1.5 stars because I couldn't get in the plot and I never really warmed up to the characters. The first book was really good and it was great to see that couple again, the new couple though didn't measure up.
Dom and Adrian had drama revolving around their relationship that I didn't understand. Dom went by three different names (Dom, Dominic, Domino) two of which represented different personas. He was famous and still no one recognized him if he didn't show his tattoos and didn't wear ripped jeans. Reminds you of a certain someone who was hiding behind glasses and a wisp of hair?
Adrian's work related drama was over the top and unnecessary. The situation was just frustrating instead of angsty or interesting. I guess it was there to work as a page filler but since I was skimming most of that part I don't think it worked quite like it was supposed to. Also, there was a big, sappy and very public gesture near the end that it was a firm "no" from me and cemented my rating.
The best part of the story was whenever Zav and Ray made an appearance. I'd gladly read another story focused on those two, but Dom and Adrian were a big miss for me.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *
Dom and Adrian had drama revolving around their relationship that I didn't understand. Dom went by three different names (Dom, Dominic, Domino) two of which represented different personas. He was famous and still no one recognized him if he didn't show his tattoos and didn't wear ripped jeans. Reminds you of a certain someone who was hiding behind glasses and a wisp of hair?
Adrian's work related drama was over the top and unnecessary. The situation was just frustrating instead of angsty or interesting. I guess it was there to work as a page filler but since I was skimming most of that part I don't think it worked quite like it was supposed to. Also, there was a big, sappy and very public gesture near the end that it was a firm "no" from me and cemented my rating.
The best part of the story was whenever Zav and Ray made an appearance. I'd gladly read another story focused on those two, but Dom and Adrian were a big miss for me.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *
September 21, 2018
I was sent this book as an advanced copy for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
After reading Syncopation I was really looking forward to reading more about Twisted Wishes and obviously about Dom and Mish (who I really hope will get her own book too!). This is Dom's book.
Dominic (Dom) is the guitarist of the band that gives the name to the series, and best friend with the singer, Ray, who was one of the two MCs in book one. They were best friends in high school too, and since Dom has always been a nerdy and anxious kid who feared he wouldn’t be taken seriously on stage presenting the way he always did, he created a persona for himself, called Domino Grinder, who is this badass make-up-wearing guitar god who’s flippant and most definitely not a nerdy twink. So far he’s managed to keep his persona separate from his personal life, and that’s why he’s able to pick up men for quick hook-ups with no consequence for his more famous self. Nobody would ever think they’ve been in bed with the famous Domino Grinder from Twisted Wishes.
Things get complicated when he meets Adrian, a slightly older (I think he’s 36, whereas Dom is 27 if I’m not mistaken) computer programmer, who doesn’t want a casual hook-up and who appeals to Dom’s nerdier and kinkier side.
While book one focused a lot on band dynamics, this one was almost exclusively about Dom and Adrian’s relationship, and Dom’s feelings about having to let Adrian in on his most well-kept and dangerous secret. The band was very much present throughout the book though, and I love how Ray, Zav and Mish were always there for Dom.
Adrian also had his own POV and he was such an interesting character. He also had his own support system in his best friend/colleague/personal trainer Jackson, who’s a queer black man and in kind of the same place as Adrian in regards to what he currently wants from a relationship. I honestly hope he gets his own book?? Maybe in a spin-off series or something? Anyway, Adrian’s storyline (outside of his relationship with Dom) focused on his life at work and I was kind of afraid it was going to feel cumbersome on top of everything else but it didn’t. It served to show Adrian outside of his relationship, which I found good because it helped ground him as a real person with flaws and everything, something that I feel would have lacked if the book only showed him in his relationship with Dom, if that makes sense.
In any case, I simply adored their relationship. Everything made me so extremely happy, from all the food mentions (omg I was hungry) to the nerdy talks and their little dates outside just walking and showing each other the places that meant a lot to them. This is where I’m going to get shy (mom if you’re reading this please look away) but I surprisingly enjoyed the d/s dynamics too. Okay, it’s surprising because even though I enjoyed some of it in Syncopation, I eventually grew tired of it and I didn’t really like it in the sex scenes . Here however the dynamics was a little different, kind of softer, there was no pain play at all and I don’t know, I was able to enjoy it even without liking it myself. I also loved how important consent always was (something that was also always there in Syncopation) and that’s really great to see even if it should go without saying.
Something else I thought was done better than in Syncopation was the use of the dual POVs. I had a couple of instances in book one in which I thought things got repetitive and I didn’t see the point (pun, sorry) of having one POV placed the way it was etc. In this book there was no such problem and the POVs were well balanced and never repetitive.
I also really appreciated Dom’s arc, his realization that he needs to find new ways to cope with his mental illness, and the representation of someone who’s trying to balance different interests that don’t necessarily match the way they present themselves. I don’t really want to spoil anything but the way everything worked out in the end was so good and I might have teared up a little bit because I’m That soft bitch.
Rep: gay/pan M/M
Content and Trigger Wranings: sexual content, age gap, anxiety, panic attack (on page), d/s dynamics (no pain play), parental death mention, bullying mention.
After reading Syncopation I was really looking forward to reading more about Twisted Wishes and obviously about Dom and Mish (who I really hope will get her own book too!). This is Dom's book.
Dominic (Dom) is the guitarist of the band that gives the name to the series, and best friend with the singer, Ray, who was one of the two MCs in book one. They were best friends in high school too, and since Dom has always been a nerdy and anxious kid who feared he wouldn’t be taken seriously on stage presenting the way he always did, he created a persona for himself, called Domino Grinder, who is this badass make-up-wearing guitar god who’s flippant and most definitely not a nerdy twink. So far he’s managed to keep his persona separate from his personal life, and that’s why he’s able to pick up men for quick hook-ups with no consequence for his more famous self. Nobody would ever think they’ve been in bed with the famous Domino Grinder from Twisted Wishes.
Things get complicated when he meets Adrian, a slightly older (I think he’s 36, whereas Dom is 27 if I’m not mistaken) computer programmer, who doesn’t want a casual hook-up and who appeals to Dom’s nerdier and kinkier side.
While book one focused a lot on band dynamics, this one was almost exclusively about Dom and Adrian’s relationship, and Dom’s feelings about having to let Adrian in on his most well-kept and dangerous secret. The band was very much present throughout the book though, and I love how Ray, Zav and Mish were always there for Dom.
Adrian also had his own POV and he was such an interesting character. He also had his own support system in his best friend/colleague/personal trainer Jackson, who’s a queer black man and in kind of the same place as Adrian in regards to what he currently wants from a relationship. I honestly hope he gets his own book?? Maybe in a spin-off series or something? Anyway, Adrian’s storyline (outside of his relationship with Dom) focused on his life at work and I was kind of afraid it was going to feel cumbersome on top of everything else but it didn’t. It served to show Adrian outside of his relationship, which I found good because it helped ground him as a real person with flaws and everything, something that I feel would have lacked if the book only showed him in his relationship with Dom, if that makes sense.
In any case, I simply adored their relationship. Everything made me so extremely happy, from all the food mentions (omg I was hungry) to the nerdy talks and their little dates outside just walking and showing each other the places that meant a lot to them. This is where I’m going to get shy (mom if you’re reading this please look away) but I surprisingly enjoyed the d/s dynamics too. Okay, it’s surprising because even though I enjoyed some of it in Syncopation, I eventually grew tired of it and I didn’t really like it in the sex scenes . Here however the dynamics was a little different, kind of softer, there was no pain play at all and I don’t know, I was able to enjoy it even without liking it myself. I also loved how important consent always was (something that was also always there in Syncopation) and that’s really great to see even if it should go without saying.
Something else I thought was done better than in Syncopation was the use of the dual POVs. I had a couple of instances in book one in which I thought things got repetitive and I didn’t see the point (pun, sorry) of having one POV placed the way it was etc. In this book there was no such problem and the POVs were well balanced and never repetitive.
I also really appreciated Dom’s arc, his realization that he needs to find new ways to cope with his mental illness, and the representation of someone who’s trying to balance different interests that don’t necessarily match the way they present themselves. I don’t really want to spoil anything but the way everything worked out in the end was so good and I might have teared up a little bit because I’m That soft bitch.
Rep: gay/pan M/M
Content and Trigger Wranings: sexual content, age gap, anxiety, panic attack (on page), d/s dynamics (no pain play), parental death mention, bullying mention.
April 26, 2019
The writing was kind of on the wall right from the start of COUNTERPOINT. I could already tell the magic I saw in SYNCOPATION wasn't going to be found again in here. But it was well written and, initially, sexy and I thought oh whatever a three ain't so bad..
But then feelings were on the fast track, secrets were kept and held onto for too long considering aforementioned feelings, and I got real bored real fast from all the sexy times. I'm not sure I found the big conflict to be very based in reality (I know I know, rockstar romances, it ain't really reality) and honestly neither character really did much for me. I definitely dragged my feet through this one and might even have thrown in the towel if not for my ARC of book three.
But then feelings were on the fast track, secrets were kept and held onto for too long considering aforementioned feelings, and I got real bored real fast from all the sexy times. I'm not sure I found the big conflict to be very based in reality (I know I know, rockstar romances, it ain't really reality) and honestly neither character really did much for me. I definitely dragged my feet through this one and might even have thrown in the towel if not for my ARC of book three.
June 5, 2020
I've given this an A+ for narration and a B+ for content at AAR, so am rounding up to 5 stars.
Counterpoint, book two in Anna Zabo’s trilogy about rock group Twisted Wishes, focuses on the band’s lead guitarist, Domino Grinder, a mouthy, tatted-up, leather-clad Rock god who struts about the stage shirtless, oozing sex appeal and attitude. Domino may be the most recognisable member of the group, but he’s also fiercely private, guarding his personal life to the extent that as far as the media can discern, he doesn’t have one. He’s never seen with anyone outside his immediate professional circle and his name is never linked with anyone else’s romantically. He’s an enigma, and that’s the way he likes it.
And the reason he’s been able to maintain that degree of anonymity is because the brash, outrageous Domino is actually a persona invented by shy, nerdy Dominic Bradley as a way of combating the debilitating stage-fright he suffered in Twisted Wishes’ early days. Unable to face performing as himself and believing nobody would take diminutive, bookish, art-loving Dominic seriously as a rock musician, he’s hidden behind Domino for years, so successfully that the only people who know that Domino doesn’t really exist are his band-mates, Ray, Zavier and Mish. As for Dominic Bradley, well he’s just another geeky, bow-tie wearing, bespectacled twink who gets plenty of the sort of attention he wants, when he wants it, no strings, no commitment – which is perfectly fine with him. Anything longer than a few hours with someone would risk the unmasking of Domino – and that’s something he’s desperate to avoid.
But from the moment Dominic meets the handsome, charming Adrian Doran at one of his favourite eateries, he senses he might be in trouble. They talk, they flirt, they share dessert; the air between them crackles with electricity and heat, the intensity of the pull he feels towards the other man like nothing Dominic has ever experienced before. Towards the end of the evening, Adrian tells Dominic he wants “more than a quick fuck and goodbye” and that he wants to explore the potential for more between them. And even though he knows it’s a risk he shouldn’t be taking, Dominic agrees to meet him again the following week, to go on a date and see where things lead.
Anna Zabo develops the relationship between Dominic and Adrian really well. I’m not a fan of insta-relationships, but the chemistry between the couple is so potent, so palpable that it’s absolutely convincing, and I enjoyed being privy to their getting-to-know-you phase as they go on dates to museums and galleries and settle into a weekly routine of lazy weekends together. Dominic loves that he gets to be himself with Adrian, something he’s rarely able to do, as he maintains his Domino persona whenever he’s around the band – even when they’re in the recording studio – and Adrian is utterly captivated by this quiet, artistic, book-loving man whose willingness to cede control in bed truly touches him. Dominic had never really considered a D/s relationship before, but being with Adrian helps him to understand and enjoy his kinks and shows him how freeing and empowering it can be to submit. The sex scenes in the book are hot, but are also tender, loving, and full of trust and acceptance with an emphasis on consent, and are integral to the story and the development of the relationship.
The tension in the story comes from Dominic’s reluctance to tell Adrian about his ‘other life’ as Domino, his fear that Adrian may not be able to keep his secret and his guilt at keeping it when Adrian has shared so much of himself with him. But there’s more to it than not wanting to give up the anonymity Domino affords him; he’s equally worried that Adrian, who has no interest in or knowledge of rock music, will see him differently once he knows the truth, and that the world at large will laugh at the idea of geeky Dominic Bradley being a rock star. Acute stage fright and Imposter Syndrome compound Dominic’s belief he can’t be both Domino and Dominic.
Adrian is pansexual, and almost ten years older than Dominic; he’s a good guy who has reached a point in his life when he’s looking for more from life than meaningless hook-ups. He’s a computer programmer for a large bank, a job that pays pretty well, but he isn’t happy there and is having to put up with a colleague constantly trying to undermine him. I appreciated that we get to see Adrian outside of his relationship with Dominic, as it helps cement him as a three-dimensional character with flaws and a life of his own. The care he shows Dominic both inside and outside the bedroom is simply wonderful; he’s a man who loves well and deeply, and I loved that although he realises Dominic is keeping something from him, he never pushes, sure that Dominic will tell him when he’s ready.
It will come as a surprise to exactly NO ONE who has ever listened to Greg Boudreaux when I say his narration is nigh on flawless and worthy of all the superlatives. His pacing, characterisation and differentiation are excellent, and his character portrayals are consistent across the books in the series, so if you’ve listened to Syncopation, you’ll easily recognise the four members of Twisted Wishes by their voices alone. Mr. Boudreaux’s interpretations of Dominic and Adrian are both spot on, too – Adrian’s deep, rich tone a perfect contrast to Dominic’s slightly higher one, his deliberate delivery accurately reflecting the fact that he’s someone confident in his own skin who knows what he wants. Mr. Boudreaux is a consummate vocal actor who never disappoints with his ability to get into the heads and hearts of the characters he portrays; he hits all the right emotional notes in the story and his performance really enhances and fully realises the depth of the connection between the two leads.
As in book one, the other band members play a large part in the story and are a wonderful support mechanism for each other, and I loved their scenes together. I did, however, have a few fairly minor niggles about the story. When the shit hits the fan – as it was bound to – I was pleased that Mx. Zabo doesn’t drag things out unnecessarily, although some of the later drama felt a bit overdone. The pacing lags a little in the middle, and I sort of wished we’d been able to see Adrian’s shitty colleague get his comeuppance, but otherwise, I enjoyed the book very much – and I’m not someone who is normally drawn to romances featuring kink.
Counterpoint was a compelling listen and one I didn’t put down easily – in fact I listened to most of it in one day. Strong storytelling, attractive leads and well-drawn secondary characters combine with a sexy and emotionally satisfying romance and a top-notch performance from one of the best narrators around to garner a strong recommendation.
Counterpoint, book two in Anna Zabo’s trilogy about rock group Twisted Wishes, focuses on the band’s lead guitarist, Domino Grinder, a mouthy, tatted-up, leather-clad Rock god who struts about the stage shirtless, oozing sex appeal and attitude. Domino may be the most recognisable member of the group, but he’s also fiercely private, guarding his personal life to the extent that as far as the media can discern, he doesn’t have one. He’s never seen with anyone outside his immediate professional circle and his name is never linked with anyone else’s romantically. He’s an enigma, and that’s the way he likes it.
And the reason he’s been able to maintain that degree of anonymity is because the brash, outrageous Domino is actually a persona invented by shy, nerdy Dominic Bradley as a way of combating the debilitating stage-fright he suffered in Twisted Wishes’ early days. Unable to face performing as himself and believing nobody would take diminutive, bookish, art-loving Dominic seriously as a rock musician, he’s hidden behind Domino for years, so successfully that the only people who know that Domino doesn’t really exist are his band-mates, Ray, Zavier and Mish. As for Dominic Bradley, well he’s just another geeky, bow-tie wearing, bespectacled twink who gets plenty of the sort of attention he wants, when he wants it, no strings, no commitment – which is perfectly fine with him. Anything longer than a few hours with someone would risk the unmasking of Domino – and that’s something he’s desperate to avoid.
But from the moment Dominic meets the handsome, charming Adrian Doran at one of his favourite eateries, he senses he might be in trouble. They talk, they flirt, they share dessert; the air between them crackles with electricity and heat, the intensity of the pull he feels towards the other man like nothing Dominic has ever experienced before. Towards the end of the evening, Adrian tells Dominic he wants “more than a quick fuck and goodbye” and that he wants to explore the potential for more between them. And even though he knows it’s a risk he shouldn’t be taking, Dominic agrees to meet him again the following week, to go on a date and see where things lead.
Anna Zabo develops the relationship between Dominic and Adrian really well. I’m not a fan of insta-relationships, but the chemistry between the couple is so potent, so palpable that it’s absolutely convincing, and I enjoyed being privy to their getting-to-know-you phase as they go on dates to museums and galleries and settle into a weekly routine of lazy weekends together. Dominic loves that he gets to be himself with Adrian, something he’s rarely able to do, as he maintains his Domino persona whenever he’s around the band – even when they’re in the recording studio – and Adrian is utterly captivated by this quiet, artistic, book-loving man whose willingness to cede control in bed truly touches him. Dominic had never really considered a D/s relationship before, but being with Adrian helps him to understand and enjoy his kinks and shows him how freeing and empowering it can be to submit. The sex scenes in the book are hot, but are also tender, loving, and full of trust and acceptance with an emphasis on consent, and are integral to the story and the development of the relationship.
The tension in the story comes from Dominic’s reluctance to tell Adrian about his ‘other life’ as Domino, his fear that Adrian may not be able to keep his secret and his guilt at keeping it when Adrian has shared so much of himself with him. But there’s more to it than not wanting to give up the anonymity Domino affords him; he’s equally worried that Adrian, who has no interest in or knowledge of rock music, will see him differently once he knows the truth, and that the world at large will laugh at the idea of geeky Dominic Bradley being a rock star. Acute stage fright and Imposter Syndrome compound Dominic’s belief he can’t be both Domino and Dominic.
Adrian is pansexual, and almost ten years older than Dominic; he’s a good guy who has reached a point in his life when he’s looking for more from life than meaningless hook-ups. He’s a computer programmer for a large bank, a job that pays pretty well, but he isn’t happy there and is having to put up with a colleague constantly trying to undermine him. I appreciated that we get to see Adrian outside of his relationship with Dominic, as it helps cement him as a three-dimensional character with flaws and a life of his own. The care he shows Dominic both inside and outside the bedroom is simply wonderful; he’s a man who loves well and deeply, and I loved that although he realises Dominic is keeping something from him, he never pushes, sure that Dominic will tell him when he’s ready.
It will come as a surprise to exactly NO ONE who has ever listened to Greg Boudreaux when I say his narration is nigh on flawless and worthy of all the superlatives. His pacing, characterisation and differentiation are excellent, and his character portrayals are consistent across the books in the series, so if you’ve listened to Syncopation, you’ll easily recognise the four members of Twisted Wishes by their voices alone. Mr. Boudreaux’s interpretations of Dominic and Adrian are both spot on, too – Adrian’s deep, rich tone a perfect contrast to Dominic’s slightly higher one, his deliberate delivery accurately reflecting the fact that he’s someone confident in his own skin who knows what he wants. Mr. Boudreaux is a consummate vocal actor who never disappoints with his ability to get into the heads and hearts of the characters he portrays; he hits all the right emotional notes in the story and his performance really enhances and fully realises the depth of the connection between the two leads.
As in book one, the other band members play a large part in the story and are a wonderful support mechanism for each other, and I loved their scenes together. I did, however, have a few fairly minor niggles about the story. When the shit hits the fan – as it was bound to – I was pleased that Mx. Zabo doesn’t drag things out unnecessarily, although some of the later drama felt a bit overdone. The pacing lags a little in the middle, and I sort of wished we’d been able to see Adrian’s shitty colleague get his comeuppance, but otherwise, I enjoyed the book very much – and I’m not someone who is normally drawn to romances featuring kink.
Counterpoint was a compelling listen and one I didn’t put down easily – in fact I listened to most of it in one day. Strong storytelling, attractive leads and well-drawn secondary characters combine with a sexy and emotionally satisfying romance and a top-notch performance from one of the best narrators around to garner a strong recommendation.
Want to read
June 18, 2018
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review from the publisher and Netgalley
September 20, 2018
Syncopation was a solid 4 stars for me, but I feel that Dom and Adrian's story is underwhelming. First of all, they have the whole insta-lust going on since their first meeting. It remove some of anticipation to build up. Adrian is a nice IT guy with a kinky side and was enamoured with Dom, the guy with the button down and bowtie. Definitely not the rockstar. There are the over emphasis of Dom's dual life - Domino Grinder the rockstar/guitarist and Dominic Bradley, the nerdy shy guy who loves to read. I get why Dom created an alter ego for the fans, but the way it was being harped on throughout the book make me feel repetitive and over the top. I would prefer he come clean to Adrian earlier and they work towards building their relationship with trust and love. They are definitely heating up the bedroom from the start and there are some D/s and bondage scenes, but I actually find myself skimming some of those.
September 24, 2018
‘Dominic was hiding. He was hiding both halves of himself from each other. Here was the heart of Dominic’s terror and fear, that if one was the truth, the other was a lie.’
Counterpoint was our first book by Anna Zabo and book two in her Twisted Wishes series. Whilst we wish we’d read book one Syncopation first, we absolutely agree that Counterpoint can be read as a standalone. This story had everything; a rock star BDSM erotica with angst and high emotion thrown in. We fell in love with Anna Zabo’s writing and we will definitely be staying with these characters to hear each individual story, as they’re all fabulous. An intense, hot, sweet and current read – you’ll need freezer time if you’re that way inclined!
‘One of the great things about having a persona he could shed at will was that he didn’t have to be as cautious when he left his home, unlike the rest of the band.’
‘He could play like he wanted to as Domino. Dance and scream and say whatever the fuck came into his mind. And when they were done, when they weren’t touring, he could peel Domino off and be Dominic again. As a bonus, he’d managed to keep himself – his true self – out of the limelight.’
Dominic is a complex character who suffers from real anxiety brought on by the pressure that comes from being a famous rock star. He may come across as living a double life and if you asked him he’d say he has no idea how to reconcile them. One persona is the larger than life, Domino – lead guitarist of Twisted Wishes, clad in punk rock gear and black lipstick with an ‘I don’t give a toss’ attitude. The other is Dominic, the sweet vulnerable geek who loves books and bow ties. Who is the real Dominic? Can he be both personas in one or do they really have to be separate? We loved Dominic’s journey in finding himself and realising who he truly is. We fell hook, line and sinker for this man and actually found him to be a strong character who had little to no faith in himself. Sometimes it takes an outsider to come along in order to remove the shutters and the cloak you hide beneath.
‘Adrian was wicked and wonderful and kind and…everything Dom wanted.’
Adrian is a grafter, but is in a job that provides zero stimulation, with working conditions that prove quite intolerable. He’s at an age now where he’s looking for more out of life. Happiness and love being the more important things. Adrian is a strong character with a good heart and a passion for life. The care and attention this man shows is immeasurable and when he loves, he loves with every fibre of his being.
“He’s Adrian Doran. And I think I might fall in love with him.”
Our hearts broke, our pulse raced and we fell in love with Dominic and Adrian. Both, despite their age difference, showed such maturity and there was absolutely no unnecessary drama despite the secrets kept. We have to applaud Anna Zabo for allowing her characters to develop in such a way they felt believable and true to themselves. Falling in love with the rest of the band members as well as Adrian’s mate, Jackson ensured that we will be jumping on the Twisted Wishes journey for more!
“I think Dominic Bradley is a rock star. I think he’s also a scholar and incredibly intelligent. He’s sexy and fun and utterly unexpected.”
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August 16, 2018
Counterpoint, the sequel to Syncopation, continues the story of Twisted Wishes, a rock band, but this time the story follows the gay lead guitarist and bookish hipster, Dominic. I was super excited to read Dom’s story, because I loved him in Syncopation, and I was also intrigued by his secrecy and the persona of rock-star Domino that he rigidly kept hidden from the world.
The second protagonist of Counterpoint is Adrian Doran, a thirty-six-year-old, pansexual computer programmer, who perfectly counters Dom’s need to be dominated in bed. Adrian was a sweetheart: he cares so deeply for Dom, both in and out of bed, and is so concerned about consent. That was something I adored about this novel: that Zabo constantly refers back to consent in every sexual scene, and even in scenes without sex.
Dom is a genuine character, and one I felt an emotional connection with. He has intense, debilitating anxiety that manifests itself whenever he has to perform, so to counter it, he created an on-stage persona called Domino, where he could act like a rock-star and not feel like a fraud or an imposter. I definitely saw some form of imposter-syndrome in Dom, but this is just my reading of his character. It’s something that made me relate to him, and during those scenes where his anxiety acted up, I really just wanted to give him a big hug.
The drama of the novel surrounds Dom’s inability to tell Adrian about his persona, which is difficult because Adrian has shared so much of himself with Dom. I understood Dom’s reasons — trust me, I understood — but it did frustrate me at times when Dom didn’t seem to trust Adrian too much. It’s something that they deal with, but it got to me sometimes.
When Dom and Adrian initially meet, sparks immediately fly and while I really liked Dom and Adrian as a couple later in the novel, I feel like the beginning stage of their relationship was very … insta-lusty. I have no problem with characters meeting and then soon after sleeping with one another, but for Dom and Adrian it had a *touch* of insta-love in it too, in that they both immediately suspected the relationship could develop into something more, despite the fact that neither of them had been in serious relationships before.
This is definitely a personal preference: depending on the novel, I don’t usually like fast relationships; that being said, I loved them together later in the novel as they so complement on another. It’s such a beautiful, healthy representation of a (sort-of) sub/dom relationship, and I was so impressed by Zabo’s description of them together.
Counterpoint was a lovely sequel to an incredible novel. I did have a few problems with it, but they were all my personal reader’s preferences. If you loved Syncopation, I have no doubt you’ll adore Counterpoint too!
The second protagonist of Counterpoint is Adrian Doran, a thirty-six-year-old, pansexual computer programmer, who perfectly counters Dom’s need to be dominated in bed. Adrian was a sweetheart: he cares so deeply for Dom, both in and out of bed, and is so concerned about consent. That was something I adored about this novel: that Zabo constantly refers back to consent in every sexual scene, and even in scenes without sex.
Dom is a genuine character, and one I felt an emotional connection with. He has intense, debilitating anxiety that manifests itself whenever he has to perform, so to counter it, he created an on-stage persona called Domino, where he could act like a rock-star and not feel like a fraud or an imposter. I definitely saw some form of imposter-syndrome in Dom, but this is just my reading of his character. It’s something that made me relate to him, and during those scenes where his anxiety acted up, I really just wanted to give him a big hug.
The drama of the novel surrounds Dom’s inability to tell Adrian about his persona, which is difficult because Adrian has shared so much of himself with Dom. I understood Dom’s reasons — trust me, I understood — but it did frustrate me at times when Dom didn’t seem to trust Adrian too much. It’s something that they deal with, but it got to me sometimes.
When Dom and Adrian initially meet, sparks immediately fly and while I really liked Dom and Adrian as a couple later in the novel, I feel like the beginning stage of their relationship was very … insta-lusty. I have no problem with characters meeting and then soon after sleeping with one another, but for Dom and Adrian it had a *touch* of insta-love in it too, in that they both immediately suspected the relationship could develop into something more, despite the fact that neither of them had been in serious relationships before.
This is definitely a personal preference: depending on the novel, I don’t usually like fast relationships; that being said, I loved them together later in the novel as they so complement on another. It’s such a beautiful, healthy representation of a (sort-of) sub/dom relationship, and I was so impressed by Zabo’s description of them together.
Counterpoint was a lovely sequel to an incredible novel. I did have a few problems with it, but they were all my personal reader’s preferences. If you loved Syncopation, I have no doubt you’ll adore Counterpoint too!
July 22, 2018
Review on my blog • Twitter • Instagram
Rep: gay main character with anxiety, pansexual main character, m/m romance
Content warnings: sexual content, BDSM, panic attacks
I received an arc from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Counterpoint is the sequel to Syncopation and I was really excited about its release. I was not even a little disappointed.
Counterpoint follows the guitarist of a band called Twisted Wishes. On stage he's the rock star, Domino Grinder. Off stage he's the quiet bookish nerd, Dominic 'Dom' Bradley with a type for intellectuals. Domino is a persona that Dom created to have off stage and to keep his personal life separate from his public life. He takes it really seriously, and tries his hardest to not let his personal life get out. Meeting Adrian made this really difficult due to him showing Dominic to him after being so used to being Domino.
Adrian is a computer programmer who hates his cooperate job. He and Dom meet at a bar, and are very draw towards each other. It goes off really quickly, and they slowly get closer and closer throughout the book. However, Dom does have some difficulty due to conflicted feelings. Around Adrian, he can be who he really is, which he doesn't get to do that much. The book does really well at portraying how Dom struggles with maintaining both parts of him, and how he is so open with Adrian. Adrian doesn't know who Dom is, and due to the makeup that comes with Domino, Don's mostly unrecognisable if he keeps his tattoos covered.
A big reason Dom created Domino was due to bullying he'd dealt with in high school when he and his bandmate Ray started the band. Due to being more nerdy, he wasn't taken seriously. He also had a history of experiencing anxiety and panic attacks, especially before shows.
Adrian hasn't been in a relationship for some time. So when he meets Dom and they quickly start to develop feeling for each other, he's hesitant at first. He slowly allows himself to commit to Dom and to take more control of his life. He and Dom both make each other better throughout the book, Dom hides not only his real self but his sexuality, and Adrian forces himself to stay in a job he hates. Their relationship helps them both get better and grow.
They also had amazing chemistry. Dominic goes by Dom, but Adrian calls him Dominic. Which is a trope I love. And from the second they start flirting, they have a spark between them, which only increases the more they get to know each other.
Needless to say, I loved this book. I wasn't able to stop reading it that I read it in a sitting. It's definitely one of my favourite romances, and this is definitely one of my favourite romance series.
October 2, 2018
2nd installment in the "Twisted Wishes" series featuring an up and coming Rock Band who have rose to the top of the food chain of the music world. The members themselves are GLBT who find their partners in each standalone installments.
Dom is the band's guitarist who lives a double life. On stage he's the outgoing in your face rocker who takes no shit as he's a ROCK GOD and knows it. Yet. In his day to day life he's a shy conservative nerd. He's been able to hide his musical alter ego so far but what happens when he meets someone who may not want to be pulled into the high octane, paparazzi crazy world he lives with. Someone who is hiding his own skeletons in the closet?
* * *
This is one HAWT scorching five alarm man on man story that pulls in BDSM and my personal admiration for shibari work. Author very cleverly linked the main characters love of all things artistic and culturally pertinent hobbies to tie in a natural progression to shibari. Hearts and love to you A. Zabo for doing that. :)
The chemistry between the main characters was obvious from the start. These two were made for each other, the problem then was would their different lifestyles be too much for them to overcome? For this girl, graphic adult BDSM scenes made it imperative that they do.....
Secondary characters. Ray & Zavier are back from Syncopatation (Twisted Wishes, #1) along with Micah, who I'm sure will be featured in the next installment. At least I hope she is because I'm matchmaking and know the PERFECT partner for her from this very story. Other characters (who shall remain nameless for various self serving reasons) interact along the way making this a truly realistic fictional world that supports the main characters.
My issues were that I loved to pieces "Syncopatation" so much that the bar was set high for this story. A bar that didn't achieve my hopes and dreams. Nothing wrong with that as it's still a solid story but does matter when a reader has been given ambrosia on the first round (installment). I do feel the body of the story dragged on too long as I waited for some excitement to appear. That's when my mind started drifting to the matchmaker thoughts. lol
Solid second installment for fans of contemporary Rocker man on man romance reads that include some truly hot scenes that include a BDSM virgin slant. Love the series and can't wait for more.
Dom is the band's guitarist who lives a double life. On stage he's the outgoing in your face rocker who takes no shit as he's a ROCK GOD and knows it. Yet. In his day to day life he's a shy conservative nerd. He's been able to hide his musical alter ego so far but what happens when he meets someone who may not want to be pulled into the high octane, paparazzi crazy world he lives with. Someone who is hiding his own skeletons in the closet?
* * *
This is one HAWT scorching five alarm man on man story that pulls in BDSM and my personal admiration for shibari work. Author very cleverly linked the main characters love of all things artistic and culturally pertinent hobbies to tie in a natural progression to shibari. Hearts and love to you A. Zabo for doing that. :)
The chemistry between the main characters was obvious from the start. These two were made for each other, the problem then was would their different lifestyles be too much for them to overcome? For this girl, graphic adult BDSM scenes made it imperative that they do.....
Secondary characters. Ray & Zavier are back from Syncopatation (Twisted Wishes, #1) along with Micah, who I'm sure will be featured in the next installment. At least I hope she is because I'm matchmaking and know the PERFECT partner for her from this very story. Other characters (who shall remain nameless for various self serving reasons) interact along the way making this a truly realistic fictional world that supports the main characters.
My issues were that I loved to pieces "Syncopatation" so much that the bar was set high for this story. A bar that didn't achieve my hopes and dreams. Nothing wrong with that as it's still a solid story but does matter when a reader has been given ambrosia on the first round (installment). I do feel the body of the story dragged on too long as I waited for some excitement to appear. That's when my mind started drifting to the matchmaker thoughts. lol
Solid second installment for fans of contemporary Rocker man on man romance reads that include some truly hot scenes that include a BDSM virgin slant. Love the series and can't wait for more.
September 25, 2018
4 1/2 STARS!
✦ Quiet, tattooed nerd who is secretly a rockstar lead guitarist (anxiety rep)
✦ Pansexual ginger-haired computer programmer
✦ Kinky (D/s, bondage)
✦ ADRIAN'S LIBRARY THO I WANTZ IT
✦ A+ food porn. And sexy "let me feed this to you and tease you while I'm at it" scenes
What more can I say: It's just so good? Some angst over the secret identity part but otherwise it's not really a super heavy read. Just sexy, kinky fun with books and food and I loved it so damn much.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
If you wish to look at some quotes/thoughts I highlighted, please check out my Twitter feed
✦ Quiet, tattooed nerd who is secretly a rockstar lead guitarist (anxiety rep)
✦ Pansexual ginger-haired computer programmer
✦ Kinky (D/s, bondage)
✦ ADRIAN'S LIBRARY THO I WANTZ IT
✦ A+ food porn. And sexy "let me feed this to you and tease you while I'm at it" scenes
What more can I say: It's just so good? Some angst over the secret identity part but otherwise it's not really a super heavy read. Just sexy, kinky fun with books and food and I loved it so damn much.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
If you wish to look at some quotes/thoughts I highlighted, please check out my Twitter feed
August 31, 2018
I honestly didn’t think it would be possible for a sequel to be better than the first story in this series, Syncopation, but I was wrong—very, very wrong. This book exceeded all my expectations and effortlessly moved to my top five of 2018.
Adrian Doran heads out to dinner one night in his Brooklyn neighborhood and happens to be seated next to a stunning, nerdy looking guy who returns his casual perusal with one of his own. Adrian is a computer programmer for a NYC bank by day and a Dom by preference in the rest of his life. When the guy accepts Adrian’s offer of a bite of his lemon meringue pie and then proceeds to moan and make subtle orgasmic facial expressions, Adrian knows what, and who, his next goal is going to be.
Dominic Bradley is a quiet, unassuming bookworm, who enjoys reading most genres of literature, visiting museums, playing his guitar, and being an all-around geek. With Adrian he discovers his submissive side, but he suffers from social anxiety, especially when he needs to take the stage with his bandmates in Twisted Wishes, a well-known rock band. To do so, he dons a new personality, Domino Grinder, a rock god who wears leather, has an upper body covered in tattoos, wears makeup, and throws the finger at the world. The lead guitarist takes bull from no man. But Dominic and Domino can’t coexist and as Dominic succumbs to the allure of a new relationship with Adrian, he’s going to have to hide Domino or risk losing the man.
As their relationship grows and Dominic discovers rope play really cements his submissive role with Adrian, he despairs of ever being able to let Adrian in on who he really is. He desperately wants to introduce him to his bandmates, and he wants to find a way to merge his two sides but backs away from any confrontation until it’s almost too late. When Adrian spots Dominic’s tattoos on the arm of the lead guitarist for Twisted Wishes on a magazine cover, he loses hope for a future with the man he loves. Can these two continue their D/s relationship and continue to grow their love if one can’t trust the other completely?
I love this author’s writing style and creativity. Caught up and totally immersed in the relationship between Adrian and Dom, I rooted for both men equally and was captivated by each page-turn as their lives took new twists and turns. Adrian was being undermined at work in a job that provided no satisfaction. Dominic was playing as Domino all day while the band practiced or did promo events, yet he couldn’t let in the one man who’d make his life even better so switched to Dominic the moment Domino was no longer needed. The dynamic of the two men in both their private D/s lives and their “out in the world” lives was comfortable, strong, balanced, in sync, and loving. But their secrets nearly broke them apart.
I accidentally discovered this author last year, but I am 100% on board as a fan. I have yet to read something that isn’t top quality and I highly recommend this story. In fact, I highly recommend this series to fans who enjoy books featuring musicians, domination/submission, great plots, interesting deep characterizations, and MM romance.
ARC provided by the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an impartial review.
Adrian Doran heads out to dinner one night in his Brooklyn neighborhood and happens to be seated next to a stunning, nerdy looking guy who returns his casual perusal with one of his own. Adrian is a computer programmer for a NYC bank by day and a Dom by preference in the rest of his life. When the guy accepts Adrian’s offer of a bite of his lemon meringue pie and then proceeds to moan and make subtle orgasmic facial expressions, Adrian knows what, and who, his next goal is going to be.
Dominic Bradley is a quiet, unassuming bookworm, who enjoys reading most genres of literature, visiting museums, playing his guitar, and being an all-around geek. With Adrian he discovers his submissive side, but he suffers from social anxiety, especially when he needs to take the stage with his bandmates in Twisted Wishes, a well-known rock band. To do so, he dons a new personality, Domino Grinder, a rock god who wears leather, has an upper body covered in tattoos, wears makeup, and throws the finger at the world. The lead guitarist takes bull from no man. But Dominic and Domino can’t coexist and as Dominic succumbs to the allure of a new relationship with Adrian, he’s going to have to hide Domino or risk losing the man.
As their relationship grows and Dominic discovers rope play really cements his submissive role with Adrian, he despairs of ever being able to let Adrian in on who he really is. He desperately wants to introduce him to his bandmates, and he wants to find a way to merge his two sides but backs away from any confrontation until it’s almost too late. When Adrian spots Dominic’s tattoos on the arm of the lead guitarist for Twisted Wishes on a magazine cover, he loses hope for a future with the man he loves. Can these two continue their D/s relationship and continue to grow their love if one can’t trust the other completely?
I love this author’s writing style and creativity. Caught up and totally immersed in the relationship between Adrian and Dom, I rooted for both men equally and was captivated by each page-turn as their lives took new twists and turns. Adrian was being undermined at work in a job that provided no satisfaction. Dominic was playing as Domino all day while the band practiced or did promo events, yet he couldn’t let in the one man who’d make his life even better so switched to Dominic the moment Domino was no longer needed. The dynamic of the two men in both their private D/s lives and their “out in the world” lives was comfortable, strong, balanced, in sync, and loving. But their secrets nearly broke them apart.
I accidentally discovered this author last year, but I am 100% on board as a fan. I have yet to read something that isn’t top quality and I highly recommend this story. In fact, I highly recommend this series to fans who enjoy books featuring musicians, domination/submission, great plots, interesting deep characterizations, and MM romance.
ARC provided by the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an impartial review.
November 13, 2018
This is my first book by the author and it’s also not very often that I read a series out of order these days. However, I just didn’t feel like reading Syncopation and this book was exactly the kind of read that I enjoy with very relatable characters, despite one being a very famous rock god. I had also read enough reviews to know that this romance was on a kinkier side, and though I was unsure about it, the author pleasantly surprised me with the way it was written.
Dominic is a rockstar with a loud, larger than life personality but all of that is just a persona which he has created to be able to perform on stage, and hide his shy, nerdy, introverted self who gets panic attacks even at the idea of people getting to know about his true self. The way he struggles with his two realities, unable to understand how to reconcile them forms the crux of the angst and I thought his mental health issues were portrayed very realistically.
Adrian is an older computer engineer who has a well paying job, but has been alone for too long and wants more. He also has his own kinks which make it harder to find a suitable partner. He is also not much of a risk taker, which shows in the way he tolerates his toxic work environment and never thinks much about following his passions instead. But the best part I loved about him was that the entire third floor of his home is a library and I gladly wanted to jump into it.
Ray, Zav and Mish are great bandmates and friends and I loved how they were so supportive of Dom, even when he was unsure of himself. They are also very warm and welcoming to Adrian and their conversations were a lot of fun. Jackson is Adrian’s best friend, colleague and trainer and it was such a fun dynamic to read about. I really wanted to read more about Jackson’s own romantic exploits and I hope the author writes a book about him too. What surprised me most was Janelle, Adrian’s friend and kind of mentor in the BDSM community. She gave such sage advice to him about following his heart, and then was also warm towards Dom when they meet unexpectedly – it was nice to see such non judgmental support in the community.
The author’s writing style is very smart with interesting conversations between the characters. There is also very well done anxiety rep here with on page panic attacks, and it all felt so raw and real and painful to read. I also never thought I would like D/s dynamics in a relationship a lot, but the way it’s written here is a more softer version of it while still being kinky and I really enjoyed it. The absolute seeking of consent in every sexual encounter also felt very refreshing and important and made the reading experience much better.
The romance does feel insta-lovey but that is not one of my pet peeves and I actually loved the instant chemistry between Dom and Adrian. The sex is very hot but what I liked more was the comfort they shared with each other. Going on dates to museums and galleries, spending their free time leisurely reading to each other, and Dom thoroughly enjoying food while Adrian loving feeding him all felt so perfect, and would be on my wishlist if I wasn’t married already.
It was also nice to see their lives individually with their own friends which gives us much more insight into their personalities outside of the romance. We don’t get to see much of how the band performs because they aren’t on tour, but we still get great glimpses into the band dynamics and how much they care for each other. I love how important a role friendship played in the book and it just shows that great friends always enhance a book – even the romantic ones.
This is a very smart and sweet story of love and self-acceptance that I thoroughly enjoyed. It also holds up well as a standalone, but I’m sure it would have been a different experience if I had read the first one. If you love your nerdy or rockstar MCs, I would definitely recommend this one.
Dominic is a rockstar with a loud, larger than life personality but all of that is just a persona which he has created to be able to perform on stage, and hide his shy, nerdy, introverted self who gets panic attacks even at the idea of people getting to know about his true self. The way he struggles with his two realities, unable to understand how to reconcile them forms the crux of the angst and I thought his mental health issues were portrayed very realistically.
Adrian is an older computer engineer who has a well paying job, but has been alone for too long and wants more. He also has his own kinks which make it harder to find a suitable partner. He is also not much of a risk taker, which shows in the way he tolerates his toxic work environment and never thinks much about following his passions instead. But the best part I loved about him was that the entire third floor of his home is a library and I gladly wanted to jump into it.
Ray, Zav and Mish are great bandmates and friends and I loved how they were so supportive of Dom, even when he was unsure of himself. They are also very warm and welcoming to Adrian and their conversations were a lot of fun. Jackson is Adrian’s best friend, colleague and trainer and it was such a fun dynamic to read about. I really wanted to read more about Jackson’s own romantic exploits and I hope the author writes a book about him too. What surprised me most was Janelle, Adrian’s friend and kind of mentor in the BDSM community. She gave such sage advice to him about following his heart, and then was also warm towards Dom when they meet unexpectedly – it was nice to see such non judgmental support in the community.
The author’s writing style is very smart with interesting conversations between the characters. There is also very well done anxiety rep here with on page panic attacks, and it all felt so raw and real and painful to read. I also never thought I would like D/s dynamics in a relationship a lot, but the way it’s written here is a more softer version of it while still being kinky and I really enjoyed it. The absolute seeking of consent in every sexual encounter also felt very refreshing and important and made the reading experience much better.
The romance does feel insta-lovey but that is not one of my pet peeves and I actually loved the instant chemistry between Dom and Adrian. The sex is very hot but what I liked more was the comfort they shared with each other. Going on dates to museums and galleries, spending their free time leisurely reading to each other, and Dom thoroughly enjoying food while Adrian loving feeding him all felt so perfect, and would be on my wishlist if I wasn’t married already.
It was also nice to see their lives individually with their own friends which gives us much more insight into their personalities outside of the romance. We don’t get to see much of how the band performs because they aren’t on tour, but we still get great glimpses into the band dynamics and how much they care for each other. I love how important a role friendship played in the book and it just shows that great friends always enhance a book – even the romantic ones.
This is a very smart and sweet story of love and self-acceptance that I thoroughly enjoyed. It also holds up well as a standalone, but I’m sure it would have been a different experience if I had read the first one. If you love your nerdy or rockstar MCs, I would definitely recommend this one.
May 9, 2019
This one is difficult to rate for me. I absolutely loved the first book and adored Ray and Zavier ... I was wondering about Doms story and also a bit apprehensive ... maybe that is the reason why this book sat for half a year on my kindle without being read.
lets just start with: it was a good read ... but (yes, I know ... there is always a but) for me the pacing of the book was off. the middle part was way to long - and yes again, normally I am all for a thourogh relationship development but here it was just too long for me.
the problems were built up and then just puff and everything is perfect. ...
so why still 3,5 stars upgraded to 4 ... because I love the band :)
lets just start with: it was a good read ... but (yes, I know ... there is always a but) for me the pacing of the book was off. the middle part was way to long - and yes again, normally I am all for a thourogh relationship development but here it was just too long for me.
the problems were built up and then just puff and everything is perfect. ...
so why still 3,5 stars upgraded to 4 ... because I love the band :)
September 24, 2018
In Counterpoint, we once again enter the world of the band Twisted Wishes, this time focusing on guitarist Domino Grinder. The world sees a tattooed bad-ass rock god on stage, but Dominic Bradley works hard to keep his real life and the persona of Domino separate. Painfully shy and reserved as Dominic, the only way he can cope with the fame and attention is to maintain two distinct lives. Romantic entanglements would jeopardize this and risk disclosure of his closely guarded secret, so Dominic has always preferred one night stands and brief encounters. But when he meets Adrian, a computer programmer by day, dominant lover by night, Dominic needs to decide whether he can trust Adrian enough and risk exposing himself to the world around him.
I adored this story. First, because Anna Zabo’s writing clicks all of my hot buttons: amazing characters, realistic situations, kinky dirty sex, and a way of drawing me in so that the world around me disappears. But also because their stories focus so much on character development. I know these people as good friends that I care about. I know their hopes, innermost desires and what makes them tick. The author does not simply tell a story, but creates these fascinating lives and lets me experience a new reality vicariously through the character’s eyes.
The reality I lived this time was that of a man who was a study in contradictions. He was a geeky, reserved hipster with a passion for music who became another person when he immersed himself in his talent. He was confident in his abilities but lacking in confidence in himself. He was a man that gave the appearance of taking on the world, but only wanted to kneel and submit and trust someone enough to hand the responsibility over to them. And this is what he found in Adrian, and I absolutely loved these two as a couple and the way in which Adrian so fully gained Dom’s trust and love and never betrayed it.
Counterpoint is the second novel in the Twisted Wishes series, although it could be read without having read the first story. But why would you want to? This band is full of such fantastic personalities that missing out on Ray and Zav’s story would be a shame. I look forward to Misch’s story and how the author will treat it. Their stories mostly involve m/m romance, so I look forward to reading how they take on a female main character.
June 13, 2022
I listened to the audiobook. If I hadn’t I probably wouldn’t have finished it. I got so tired of Dom. This book had way too much inner monologue, and he kept saying the same thing over and over. Other than that it was a good story. Greg Boudreaux’s narration was incredible. He certainly saved the book for me.
August 11, 2020
This was straight fire emojis. Well, not straight, but you take my meaning.
September 20, 2018
Okay, hot dayum, folks, this week’s read was killer. Counterpoint, by Anna Zabo, is book two in the Twisted Wishes miniseries from Carina Press. I haven’t read book one, but you can bet your booty that bad boy is already purchased and sitting in my Kindle to start reading as soon as I’m finished with this review. Because, holy smokes, I fell so flippin’ hard for these characters. I cannot wait to see Ray and Zavier’s story, because I just know it’s gonna be crazy hot and delicious and just… Okay, sorry, I’m totally getting off topic here.
Let’s return to the review at hand, shall we? The totally amazeballs, steamy pile of yumminess that is Dom and Adrian’s story. So, where to start? This book is a wonderfully fun twist on the rock star romance trope… and it has some hella hot, well done BDSM, too. I mean, come on, what more can a gal ask for??
Dominic Bradley—aka Domino Grinder, the rockin’ lead guitarist of the hit rock band, Twisted Wishes—is a delightfully nerdy, shy, and anxiety-filled mess in his private life. The only way he can step onstage and manage the pressure of stardom is to don the larger-than-life persona of Domino. For years, he’s lived this double life, unsure of who the real Dom is. He’s studiously kept his two halves separate, fearful of what might happen if they were to ever intersect.
That is, until Adrian Doran enters his life. What starts out as a ridiculously smokin’ hot and wonderfully playful chance encounter eventually turns into so much more—for both men. The only problem is, Adrian only knows about his loveable, beautiful, submissive little Dominic. He’s completely clueless his boyfriend is a rock star in hiding.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it? In a way, it is. But, oh, what a blissful mess. It wrenches your heart, but it’s so raw, and real, and amazingly deep. We’re shown their love, pain, and everything in between with vivid, heartrending words that cut and soothed and left me wanting more, more, more.
When I hit the end, I was both satisfied and disappointed. Satisfied because the story was rich, the characters were charming, and the ending was a dream. Disappointed because it was over and I desperately needed more. More Dom, more Adrian, more Twisted Wishes. Just more of everything. And, thankfully, I’ve got book one to read.
Let’s just say, I’ve already warned my husband to steer clear once I finish that book. I might be a bit on the grumpy side of things when I realize I have to wait for the next installment. (Because, there dang well better be… if these two books are it, I might melt into a puddle of unfulfilled readerly goop.)
So, what are you waiting for? I mean it… seriously… what the heck are you waiting for?? Counterpoint is available for pre-order or can be purchased for immediate enjoyment on or after its release date, September 24, 2018!
*I RECEIVED AN ARC OF THIS NOVEL VIA NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*
Let’s return to the review at hand, shall we? The totally amazeballs, steamy pile of yumminess that is Dom and Adrian’s story. So, where to start? This book is a wonderfully fun twist on the rock star romance trope… and it has some hella hot, well done BDSM, too. I mean, come on, what more can a gal ask for??
Dominic Bradley—aka Domino Grinder, the rockin’ lead guitarist of the hit rock band, Twisted Wishes—is a delightfully nerdy, shy, and anxiety-filled mess in his private life. The only way he can step onstage and manage the pressure of stardom is to don the larger-than-life persona of Domino. For years, he’s lived this double life, unsure of who the real Dom is. He’s studiously kept his two halves separate, fearful of what might happen if they were to ever intersect.
That is, until Adrian Doran enters his life. What starts out as a ridiculously smokin’ hot and wonderfully playful chance encounter eventually turns into so much more—for both men. The only problem is, Adrian only knows about his loveable, beautiful, submissive little Dominic. He’s completely clueless his boyfriend is a rock star in hiding.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it? In a way, it is. But, oh, what a blissful mess. It wrenches your heart, but it’s so raw, and real, and amazingly deep. We’re shown their love, pain, and everything in between with vivid, heartrending words that cut and soothed and left me wanting more, more, more.
When I hit the end, I was both satisfied and disappointed. Satisfied because the story was rich, the characters were charming, and the ending was a dream. Disappointed because it was over and I desperately needed more. More Dom, more Adrian, more Twisted Wishes. Just more of everything. And, thankfully, I’ve got book one to read.
Let’s just say, I’ve already warned my husband to steer clear once I finish that book. I might be a bit on the grumpy side of things when I realize I have to wait for the next installment. (Because, there dang well better be… if these two books are it, I might melt into a puddle of unfulfilled readerly goop.)
So, what are you waiting for? I mean it… seriously… what the heck are you waiting for?? Counterpoint is available for pre-order or can be purchased for immediate enjoyment on or after its release date, September 24, 2018!
*I RECEIVED AN ARC OF THIS NOVEL VIA NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*
August 11, 2018
This was absolutely one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I wanna thank Netgalley and Carina Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved being back with Twisted Wishes and seeing Dom find his own happy ending. I do wish there had been more scenes with the band because I love their interactions and familial-like closeness. This book largely focused on Dom and Adrian, especially Dom figuring out how to balance himself as Dominic with the persona of Domino he puts on for the fans and to help alleviate his anxiety around being in the spotlight.
I loved the gradual way both Dom and Adrian experienced life changes, but their relationship felt very fast-paced to me. I don’t know if it was in the pacing of the book (mostly flirting between weekends) or me, but “I love you” felt like it came a bit quickly. That said, I still felt a deep well of emotion and trust between the pair, especially given the dynamic they shared.
The BDSM wasn’t the same as what was seen in Syncopation, and I love the different expressions of kink this series has thus far explored. For Dom and Adrian, they focus largely on domination and submission, as well as bondage. I love all the ways food and feeding was incorporated in their interactions and the dominance; there are many instances where Adrian feeds Dom as foreplay almost, and even some where Dom is in bondage, putting the food more firmly into a BDSM light.
Overall this was a really great read and I’m so glad I got it! I can’t wait for others to read it and hopefully root for Adrian and Dom as I did.
Content notes:
🎼 sharing food, being fed
🎼 9 year age difference
🎼 consensual public gentle groping
🎼 food as foreplay, sensual eating
🎼 persona, distinct and separate
🎼 references to former band manager who hurt band, including giving lead singer roofies leading to hospitalization (events from Syncopation)
🎼 racism that makes place at work contentious for side character
🎼 alcohol consumption
🎼 homomisia, panmisia, assumptions of sexuality
🎼 on page sex
🎼 on page kink/bdsm
🎼 subspace
🎼 crying after sex - overwhelmed
🎼 slight exhibitionism
🎼 domestic domination(?)
🎼 dirty talk - potential to feel degratory - not wholly negotiated
🎼 reference to coming out
🎼 reference to AIDS crisis
🎼 MC comes from devout Irish catholic family
🎼 death of father in past
🎼 death of mother in past
🎼 bondage
🎼 on page panic attack
🎼 mention of vomiting
🎼 reference to bullying, teasing in school
🎼 negative self talk
🎼 talk of past therapy, mention of looking for new therapist
🎼 private identity revealed by paparazzi
🎼 vomiting
————————-
8/7/18 - I got an ARC from Netgalley 😭😭😍😍😭😭
I absolutely loved being back with Twisted Wishes and seeing Dom find his own happy ending. I do wish there had been more scenes with the band because I love their interactions and familial-like closeness. This book largely focused on Dom and Adrian, especially Dom figuring out how to balance himself as Dominic with the persona of Domino he puts on for the fans and to help alleviate his anxiety around being in the spotlight.
I loved the gradual way both Dom and Adrian experienced life changes, but their relationship felt very fast-paced to me. I don’t know if it was in the pacing of the book (mostly flirting between weekends) or me, but “I love you” felt like it came a bit quickly. That said, I still felt a deep well of emotion and trust between the pair, especially given the dynamic they shared.
The BDSM wasn’t the same as what was seen in Syncopation, and I love the different expressions of kink this series has thus far explored. For Dom and Adrian, they focus largely on domination and submission, as well as bondage. I love all the ways food and feeding was incorporated in their interactions and the dominance; there are many instances where Adrian feeds Dom as foreplay almost, and even some where Dom is in bondage, putting the food more firmly into a BDSM light.
Overall this was a really great read and I’m so glad I got it! I can’t wait for others to read it and hopefully root for Adrian and Dom as I did.
Content notes:
🎼 sharing food, being fed
🎼 9 year age difference
🎼 consensual public gentle groping
🎼 food as foreplay, sensual eating
🎼 persona, distinct and separate
🎼 references to former band manager who hurt band, including giving lead singer roofies leading to hospitalization (events from Syncopation)
🎼 racism that makes place at work contentious for side character
🎼 alcohol consumption
🎼 homomisia, panmisia, assumptions of sexuality
🎼 on page sex
🎼 on page kink/bdsm
🎼 subspace
🎼 crying after sex - overwhelmed
🎼 slight exhibitionism
🎼 domestic domination(?)
🎼 dirty talk - potential to feel degratory - not wholly negotiated
🎼 reference to coming out
🎼 reference to AIDS crisis
🎼 MC comes from devout Irish catholic family
🎼 death of father in past
🎼 death of mother in past
🎼 bondage
🎼 on page panic attack
🎼 mention of vomiting
🎼 reference to bullying, teasing in school
🎼 negative self talk
🎼 talk of past therapy, mention of looking for new therapist
🎼 private identity revealed by paparazzi
🎼 vomiting
————————-
8/7/18 - I got an ARC from Netgalley 😭😭😍😍😭😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2018
I enjoyed Dom and Adrian so much! From the very beginning, their meeting was so *heart eyes* I loved how much of a foodie they both are and yeah this book made me hungryyyyy.
Anna does an excellent job building Dom and Adrian's relationship. We get to see as they're learning each other, the unfolding of their feelings. But I'm always happy when we also see their lives separate from each other. We can learn so much. And we did!
I felt for Dom, wanted to just wrap him up in a warm blanket. He's so conflicted and trying to figure out if he can ever mesh Domino Grinder, the rock star with Dominic, the sorta shy nerdy foodie book lover. I really enjoyed that exploration here because it was so relatable? Where you have these clashing sides of your persona and figuring out how to meld them, *if* to meld them is tough. It's even tougher for Dom as he's falling for Adrian and is so scared to reveal who he is.
Adrian's also dealing with his own crap at work and Yayyy for how that was all sorted out! :)
I gotta say my heart was in my throat when Adrian found out that Dom is also Domino, but I'hm grateful that there wasn't a long drawn out fight about it. They had a legit discussion about it, about Dom's fears and even though my poor emotions wee allll over the place whew that was a great scene. Well executed.
And we get to see the band, heyyy Mish heyyyy (can you tell i'm excited for her book? lol) It was obvious in book 1 the family dynamics of the band and this continued in book 2. I just love them. And Adrian's bestie, I liked him alot and would love to see more of him someday.
Also whoaaa prepare for allll the steamy here, because yuuup this book is on fiiiiire. Most memorable scene: ropes and pie! That'sh alls I'm saying.
Also so much cuteness mixed in with all this heat. Just the perfect balance of it. And hi that epilogue was great :)
Anna does an excellent job building Dom and Adrian's relationship. We get to see as they're learning each other, the unfolding of their feelings. But I'm always happy when we also see their lives separate from each other. We can learn so much. And we did!
I felt for Dom, wanted to just wrap him up in a warm blanket. He's so conflicted and trying to figure out if he can ever mesh Domino Grinder, the rock star with Dominic, the sorta shy nerdy foodie book lover. I really enjoyed that exploration here because it was so relatable? Where you have these clashing sides of your persona and figuring out how to meld them, *if* to meld them is tough. It's even tougher for Dom as he's falling for Adrian and is so scared to reveal who he is.
Adrian's also dealing with his own crap at work and Yayyy for how that was all sorted out! :)
I gotta say my heart was in my throat when Adrian found out that Dom is also Domino, but I'hm grateful that there wasn't a long drawn out fight about it. They had a legit discussion about it, about Dom's fears and even though my poor emotions wee allll over the place whew that was a great scene. Well executed.
And we get to see the band, heyyy Mish heyyyy (can you tell i'm excited for her book? lol) It was obvious in book 1 the family dynamics of the band and this continued in book 2. I just love them. And Adrian's bestie, I liked him alot and would love to see more of him someday.
Also whoaaa prepare for allll the steamy here, because yuuup this book is on fiiiiire. Most memorable scene: ropes and pie! That'sh alls I'm saying.
Also so much cuteness mixed in with all this heat. Just the perfect balance of it. And hi that epilogue was great :)
June 23, 2019
This series continues to astound me. I loved how this explored Dominic’s persona as Domino and how it helped him feel safe on stage, especially as that contrasts to how he felt safe with Adrian. The dichotomy of Dominic vs Domino and Dom’s struggle to know which side of him was real was so compelling. This does a great job of delving into Dom’s mental health and showing how Adrian can support him but that support only goes so far. Dom still has to do the work of healing himself. Even so, he and Adrian were so lovely together. From the moment they meet at the restaurant, I was hooked. Their relationship and the kink had such a well-paced evolution. Adrian was so patient with Dominic. They are such good men and so good together, even as they’re dealing with outside stressors. Once Dom is able to tell Adrian about his music and the band, a whole other side of him opens up and even though they have to weather a major storm together, the story came alive in a new way, filled with hope and restoration.
Bonus points for Adrian’s amazing home library.
CW: past death of a parent, anxiety, panic attacks, reference to past homophobia, estranged family relationships, workplace hostility/sabotage
Bonus points for Adrian’s amazing home library.
CW: past death of a parent, anxiety, panic attacks, reference to past homophobia, estranged family relationships, workplace hostility/sabotage
September 23, 2018
‘Dominic was hiding. He was hiding both halves of himself from each other. Here was the heart of Dominic’s terror and fear, that if one was the truth, the other was a lie.’
Counterpoint was our first book by Anna Zabo and book two in her Twisted Wishes series. Whilst we wish we’d read book one Syncopation first, we absolutely agree that Counterpoint can be read as a standalone. This story had everything; a rock star BDSM erotica with angst and high emotion thrown in. We fell in love with Anna Zabo’s writing and we will definitely be staying with these characters to hear each individual story, as they’re all fabulous. An intense, hot, sweet and current read – you’ll need freezer time if you’re that way inclined!
‘One of the great things about having a persona he could shed at will was that he didn’t have to be as cautious when he left his home, unlike the rest of the band.’
‘He could play like he wanted to as Domino. Dance and scream and say whatever the fuck came into his mind. And when they were done, when they weren’t touring, he could peel Domino off and be Dominic again. As a bonus, he’d managed to keep himself – his true self – out of the limelight.’
Dominic is a complex character who suffers from real anxiety brought on by the pressure that comes from being a famous rock star. He may come across as living a double life and if you asked him he’d say he has no idea how to reconcile them. One persona is the larger than life, Domino – lead guitarist of Twisted Wishes, clad in punk rock gear and black lipstick with an ‘I don’t give a toss’ attitude. The other is Dominic, the sweet vulnerable geek who loves books and bow ties. Who is the real Dominic? Can he be both personas in one or do they really have to be separate? We loved Dominic’s journey in finding himself and realising who he truly is. We fell hook, line and sinker for this man and actually found him to be a strong character who had little to no faith in himself. Sometimes it takes an outsider to come along in order to remove the shutters and the cloak you hide beneath.
‘Adrian was wicked and wonderful and kind and…everything Dom wanted.’
Adrian is a grafter, but is in a job that provides zero stimulation, with working conditions that prove quite intolerable. He’s at an age now where he’s looking for more out of life. Happiness and love being the more important things. Adrian is a strong character with a good heart and a passion for life. The care and attention this man shows is immeasurable and when he loves, he loves with every fibre of his being.
“He’s Adrian Doran. And I think I might fall in love with him.”
Our hearts broke, our pulse raced and we fell in love with Dominic and Adrian. Both, despite their age difference, showed such maturity and there was absolutely no unnecessary drama despite the secrets kept. We have to applaud Anna Zabo for allowing her characters to develop in such a way they felt believable and true to themselves. Falling in love with the rest of the band members as well as Adrian’s mate, Jackson ensured that we will be jumping on the Twisted Wishes journey for more!
“I think Dominic Bradley is a rock star. I think he’s also a scholar and incredibly intelligent. He’s sexy and fun and utterly unexpected.”
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June 23, 2018
I’ve always been intrigued by Dom Bradley, or at least, with the sexy but untouchable stage persona he assumes that has helped become a weapon against his shyness when performing. And it was more than an inkling that ‘Counterpoint’ would be a book that would tear apart these well-compartmentalised identities, considering meeting and hooking up with Adrian Doran is the catalyst that brings us to this point.
But ‘Counterpoint’ starts with a slow, almost awkward introduction—there isn’t too much of the nerd boy that Zabo explored in her previous book, so it is gratifying to see just how different Dominic/Domino is at the start—that actually left me surprised with the fidgety Dominic whose top layer simply doesn’t resemble the rock god at all.
Still, the burn is slow despite their flirting, the poetry and the literature and the quick hookups, and I got impatient getting to the meat of the story and skimmed even the smutty bits that for some reason didn’t interest me too much, until the conflict finally, finally kicks in towards the end. It is primarily the shifting nature of these identities that Zabo takes on that I wanted to read after all, such that this eclipsed everything else that others might find they like about the story, their bedroom activities and all. So I lapped up all the bits that involved Dom and his difficulties with his stage persona, then found myself skimming the others.
Nonetheless, slippery as it is to handle, I thought the complexity of Dom’s issues is quite well teased out (admittedly for longer than I thought these should have been)—the contradictions, the fear of discovery, the identity that he hides behind—though in contrast, I found Adrian less interesting, who feels more like a typical player who finally can see himself settling down with someone as unusual as Dom, who then fights for a relationship that he suddenly wants so much.
Objectively speaking, ‘Counterpoint’ is more than a decent read and that’s Zabo’s confident writing showing here. But to say that the last quarter is the most thrilling and enjoyable bit is probably the most accurate sum-up for me, just like ’Syncopation’ was.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
But ‘Counterpoint’ starts with a slow, almost awkward introduction—there isn’t too much of the nerd boy that Zabo explored in her previous book, so it is gratifying to see just how different Dominic/Domino is at the start—that actually left me surprised with the fidgety Dominic whose top layer simply doesn’t resemble the rock god at all.
Still, the burn is slow despite their flirting, the poetry and the literature and the quick hookups, and I got impatient getting to the meat of the story and skimmed even the smutty bits that for some reason didn’t interest me too much, until the conflict finally, finally kicks in towards the end. It is primarily the shifting nature of these identities that Zabo takes on that I wanted to read after all, such that this eclipsed everything else that others might find they like about the story, their bedroom activities and all. So I lapped up all the bits that involved Dom and his difficulties with his stage persona, then found myself skimming the others.
Nonetheless, slippery as it is to handle, I thought the complexity of Dom’s issues is quite well teased out (admittedly for longer than I thought these should have been)—the contradictions, the fear of discovery, the identity that he hides behind—though in contrast, I found Adrian less interesting, who feels more like a typical player who finally can see himself settling down with someone as unusual as Dom, who then fights for a relationship that he suddenly wants so much.
Objectively speaking, ‘Counterpoint’ is more than a decent read and that’s Zabo’s confident writing showing here. But to say that the last quarter is the most thrilling and enjoyable bit is probably the most accurate sum-up for me, just like ’Syncopation’ was.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley
August 4, 2018
Anna Zabo has done it yet again, writing a glorious, slightly kinky romance featuring a reluctant rock star and a toppy tech exec, making it a shoo-in for my favorites for the year list. Dom’s “split personality” was described in Syncopation; Domino Grinder is the bold and confident stage presence but his true self is Dominic, bow-tie wearing nerd and bibliophile. Dom believes if his secret is revealed, it will be the end of his career. Pansexual and 10 years older, Adrian Doran is drawn to Dominic during a chance meeting in a cafe and the attraction is sealed through the erotic consumption of lemon meringue pie in public. (Yum!) As they begin seeing more of each other, Adrian guides Dominic through the BD part of BDSM that he craves. It’s fairly mild; cuffs and rope in the bedroom, no impact play or pain plus both men are occasionally versatile. I really enjoyed the balance the author achieved between the personalities of the men themselves. Sex scenes that are integral to the story never seem excessive with the judicious use of exposition for some.
Dominic’s fears are deep-rooted and his secrecy becomes a major obstacle to the future of the relationship when Adrian discovers the deception. Naturally Zavier, Ray and Misha are on hand to offer support and advice for Dominic and Adrian has his own friends who add interest to the narrative. His friend and co-worker Jackson has a strong role and later he discovers friend and kink-advisor Janelle has a tenuous connection to Zavier. (I’d love to see a story for Jackson in the future, although he has a boyfriend in this story and seems quite vanilla) Adrian also has to contend with problem co-workers and dissatisfaction with his job, all of which adds texture and dimension to this fresh take on a secret identity trope. This could be read as a stand-alone fairly easily I think but I hope you don’t deprive yourself of Ray and Zavier’s story! I recommend this one quite highly. #Counterpoint #NetGalley
Dominic’s fears are deep-rooted and his secrecy becomes a major obstacle to the future of the relationship when Adrian discovers the deception. Naturally Zavier, Ray and Misha are on hand to offer support and advice for Dominic and Adrian has his own friends who add interest to the narrative. His friend and co-worker Jackson has a strong role and later he discovers friend and kink-advisor Janelle has a tenuous connection to Zavier. (I’d love to see a story for Jackson in the future, although he has a boyfriend in this story and seems quite vanilla) Adrian also has to contend with problem co-workers and dissatisfaction with his job, all of which adds texture and dimension to this fresh take on a secret identity trope. This could be read as a stand-alone fairly easily I think but I hope you don’t deprive yourself of Ray and Zavier’s story! I recommend this one quite highly. #Counterpoint #NetGalley
May 4, 2022
I really enjoyed this one!
This book was about the guitarist from Twisted Wishes, Dominic. Through the first book we know that he has his on stage persona of Domino Grinder, which is quite different from his off stage self of Dominic Bradley. He came up with his on stage persona to get over fairly severe stage fright and he's been able to keep the two identities separate, with the band's fans not knowing his real identity.
I mean, you can kind of guess where this goes. He meets someone, Adrian, and their relationship gets serious, but Dominic has to try and figure out how to tell Adrian about his on stage persona, as well as figuring out for himself which is the real Dominic.
Again, there is kink in this one, more of the BD, not so much the SM. I really like how Zabo writes kink, because I think there are a lot of assumptions/stereotypes about what BDSM is, and what they show in their books is that there is a huge variety of kinks that fall under the BDSM label. I also really liked all of the consent in this one, Adrian was constantly checking in with Dominic, verbally getting his consent all the time and checking throughout scenes that Dominic was still consenting. Seeing that in books really helps to normalize actively getting consent. And it's not just 'tell me to stop if you don't like something', it's continually asking 'are you good with this? is this good for you? are you okay?'. I will never get tired of seeing consent written into books in this way.
I'm really looking forward to starting the last book in the trilogy. It was actually recently on a list of trans/NB romance novels that libraries should have, so I'm excited to get to it!
This book was about the guitarist from Twisted Wishes, Dominic. Through the first book we know that he has his on stage persona of Domino Grinder, which is quite different from his off stage self of Dominic Bradley. He came up with his on stage persona to get over fairly severe stage fright and he's been able to keep the two identities separate, with the band's fans not knowing his real identity.
I mean, you can kind of guess where this goes. He meets someone, Adrian, and their relationship gets serious, but Dominic has to try and figure out how to tell Adrian about his on stage persona, as well as figuring out for himself which is the real Dominic.
Again, there is kink in this one, more of the BD, not so much the SM. I really like how Zabo writes kink, because I think there are a lot of assumptions/stereotypes about what BDSM is, and what they show in their books is that there is a huge variety of kinks that fall under the BDSM label. I also really liked all of the consent in this one, Adrian was constantly checking in with Dominic, verbally getting his consent all the time and checking throughout scenes that Dominic was still consenting. Seeing that in books really helps to normalize actively getting consent. And it's not just 'tell me to stop if you don't like something', it's continually asking 'are you good with this? is this good for you? are you okay?'. I will never get tired of seeing consent written into books in this way.
I'm really looking forward to starting the last book in the trilogy. It was actually recently on a list of trans/NB romance novels that libraries should have, so I'm excited to get to it!
September 22, 2018
This is my first book in the series, and I assure you, this one can read as a stand alone, with a little spoiler from the previous book (if you don't mind spoilers that is).
When you falling in lust with a nerdy guy but he's not really that nerdy guy you fall for, would you feel cheated on?
That's what Adrian felt when he found out who Dom really is.
It was interesting in the beginning, how Adrian approaching Dominic and all of a sudden, he didn't want a hookup and wanted more, because Dom is so much more than a hookup.
But I felt like, I don't know, something's missing from their relationship. Lust chemistry, sure.
But not a stronger chemistry I was looking for.
Dom and Adrian and their kinky relationship sure is hot and steamy. But I think, I'm too old for this kind of 'too much sex', while I usually love reading about sex. Or it was, too much sex. I felt like, this could be shorter if only...
You can blame me for not too satisfied with this. But it was an okay read, I guess. Not my favorite, but bearable. I didn't love it, didn't hate it either.
It was okay. And maybe, this is the book you are looking for. Ignore my review, read the five stars instead :)
September 24, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Counterpoint follows Syncopation in the Twisted Wishes series. The first book focused on Ray and Zander and, while this book expects you to know their story when they appear on page, Adrian and Dominic’s story does stand alone.
Dominic is kind of a mess. He created the persona of Domino so he could perform on stage. He loves the music and his band, but the stage fright he experiences is real and being Domino is his coping mechanism. The band is supportive of him, but they also want to see him happy. Everyone knows it’s just a matter of time until his secret is exposed, and this secret was a little difficult for me to get fully on board with. Twisted Wishes is one of the hottest bands around and it read as a little out there that by Dominic covering his tattoos and dressing down, he could remain undetected for so long in current society.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Counterpoint follows Syncopation in the Twisted Wishes series. The first book focused on Ray and Zander and, while this book expects you to know their story when they appear on page, Adrian and Dominic’s story does stand alone.
Dominic is kind of a mess. He created the persona of Domino so he could perform on stage. He loves the music and his band, but the stage fright he experiences is real and being Domino is his coping mechanism. The band is supportive of him, but they also want to see him happy. Everyone knows it’s just a matter of time until his secret is exposed, and this secret was a little difficult for me to get fully on board with. Twisted Wishes is one of the hottest bands around and it read as a little out there that by Dominic covering his tattoos and dressing down, he could remain undetected for so long in current society.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
September 19, 2018
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I absolutely loved this story! Dominic and Adrian’s friendship is beautiful and the smoking hot sex scenes are fabulous.
Dominic is a wonderful character. The world knows Domino, his fierce stage persona, while he saves Dominic, the quieter and more intellectual side of himself for his private life. I really enjoyed Dominic’s personal journey in this story. Computer programmer Adrian is a very ordinary character and I love the contrast between his work in a cubicle at a bank with Dominic’s rockstar life.
The chemistry between Adrian and Dominic is electric and I love the way Adrian helps Dominic understand and enjoy his personal kinks. This is a sexy book that straddles the line between romance and erotica. The characters and the storylines here are so well developed that the numerous (and very imaginative) sex scenes always feel intimate and sensual. The kink in this book feels honest and real and I really appreciate the absence of tired BDSM tropes.
I feel like the writing and editing is much stronger in this second book than it was in the first. This story doesn’t have any of the the sensationalist OTT drama that often overshadowed Ray and Zavier’s relationship in the first book. I really loved this slightly more understated and thoughtful second story and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.
I absolutely loved this story! Dominic and Adrian’s friendship is beautiful and the smoking hot sex scenes are fabulous.
Dominic is a wonderful character. The world knows Domino, his fierce stage persona, while he saves Dominic, the quieter and more intellectual side of himself for his private life. I really enjoyed Dominic’s personal journey in this story. Computer programmer Adrian is a very ordinary character and I love the contrast between his work in a cubicle at a bank with Dominic’s rockstar life.
The chemistry between Adrian and Dominic is electric and I love the way Adrian helps Dominic understand and enjoy his personal kinks. This is a sexy book that straddles the line between romance and erotica. The characters and the storylines here are so well developed that the numerous (and very imaginative) sex scenes always feel intimate and sensual. The kink in this book feels honest and real and I really appreciate the absence of tired BDSM tropes.
I feel like the writing and editing is much stronger in this second book than it was in the first. This story doesn’t have any of the the sensationalist OTT drama that often overshadowed Ray and Zavier’s relationship in the first book. I really loved this slightly more understated and thoughtful second story and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.
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